Quick horn release for a lariat



y 1961 E. J. FORTIN 2,985,138

QUICK HORN RELEASE FOR A LARIAT Filed Nov. 21, 1958 ELMER J. FORTININVENTOR.

FIG. 3 RY/9482??? ijnited rates Patent QUICK HORN RELEASE FOR A LARIATElmer J. For-fin, Rte. 4, Box 201, Fort Collins, Colo.

Filed Nov. 21, 1958, Ser. No. 775,428

Claims. (Cl. 119-110) This invention relates to lassoing or ropingsteers, horses, and other animals with a lariat or rope, andparticularly where the lariat is anchored to a horn of a saddle, and inparticular a honda in which an end of a lariat extended around a horn ofa saddle is securely held, and wherein the end of the lariat is readilyreleased by pulling on a cord or thong extended from a latch of thehonda.

The purpose of this invention is to provide latching means in a hondafor a lariat in which gripping elements are readily snapped over the endof a lariat and in which the gripping elements are readily actuated toreleasing positions.

The free end of the lariat, in roping livestock, must be securelyanchored and in conventional practice the roper secures the lariat endto the saddle horn.

If a roper gets in trouble while mounted the livestock at the other endof the lariat usually puts so much strain on the lariat that releasingthe lariat from the saddle horn is virtually impossible.

It is, therefore, the primary object of this invention to provide aquick release mechanism which secures the free end of the lariat to thesaddle horn but if trouble occurs, the roper can manually actuate therelease quickly separating the lariat from the saddle horn whereby horseand rider can quickly get away from the lariat.

it is a further object of this invention to provide a quick horn releasedevice for a lariat that will set the lariat free regardless of theweight or strain on the lariat.

I have found that this invention is particularly useful for rodeoroping. The Rodeo Cowboys Association rules for steer roping states, Thelariat must be around both horns for a legal catch.

in rodeo roping a roper usually carries two lariats attached to hissaddle horn. In case he misses with his first loop he can use his secondloop.

However, in steer roping or team tieing, if the first catch is notlegal, the first rope must be jerked off the steer or the lariat must beed the saddle horn before the roper can use his second loop. If a steeris at the other end of the lariat, it is impossible for the roper toremove his lariat.

With this in mind my quick horn release device for a lariat is mostapplicable since the roper need only quickly actuate the releasemechanism to free the illegal lariat.

Various types of latching devices have been provided for lariats and thelike and although such devices are readily secured in holding positions,releasing the latching elements is sometimes difiicult, and in the mostcommon hondas it is necessary to approach dangerously close to an animalheld in the lariat.

With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a lariat honda inwhich gripping jaws are retained in latching relation with an end of alariat by a latch, and wherein the latch is actuated to release the jawsby pulling on a cord or thong extended therefrom.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide latching means ina lariat honda wherein the latching means may be actuated to release theend of the lariat from a remote point.

Another object of the invention is to provide a releasable honda forlariats in which latching elements of the honda are readily snapped intoholding relation with an end of the lariat on which the honda ispositioned.

A further object of the invention is to provide a latch for grippingjaws of a lariat honda in which the complete honda is compact and of arelatively small size.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a latching hondafor a lariat in which the latch element is actuated to a releasingposition by pulling a cord or thong in which the honda is of a simpleand economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the inventionembodies a substantially rectangular-shaped block providing a body withan opening therethrough through which the lariat passes and havinggripping jaws with holding fingers at the ends and a latch with a ropeattaching eye thereon positioned therebetween, pivotally mounted on thesides of the body.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein;

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the rope releasing lariatpositioned over a horn of a saddle with the parts in locking positions.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the honda of the lariat.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the honda taken on line 3'3of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the honda with the jaws, latch,and one of the gripping fingers shown in released positions.

While one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theabove-referred-to drawings, it is to be understood that they are merelyfor the purpose of illustration and that various changes in constructionmay be resorted to in the course of manufacture in order that theinvention may be utilized to the best advantage according tocircumstances which may arise without in any manner departing from thespirit and intention of the device, which is to be limited only inaccordance with the appended claims. And while there is stated theprimary field of utility of the invention, it remains obvious that itmay be employed in any other capacity wherein it may be foundapplicable.

In the accompanying drawings and in the following specification, thesame reference characters are used to designated the same parts andelements throughout, and in which the numeral 10 refers to the inventionin its, entirety, numeral 7 12 indicating a rectangular-shaped blockproviding a body, numerals 14 and 16 jaws pivotally mounted on one sideof the body by pins 18 and 20, numerals 22 and 24 jaws positioned on theopposite side of the body and also pivotally mounted thereon by the pins18 and 20, numerals 26 and 28 holding fingers pivotally mounted by endsof a pin 30 on the upper jaws 14 and 22, and numeral 32 a latchpivotally mounted by the intermediate part of the pin 30 between theupper jaws and positioned to snap over a pin 34 extended through thelower jaws l6 and 24. g

The body 12 is provided with a transversely disposed opening 36 havingcountersunk or beveled ends, as indicated by the numeral 33, and, asshown in Figure 1, the lariat 40 extends through the opening 36, arounda horn 42 of a saddle 44 and back through a semi-circular recess 46 inthe end of the body 12 opposite to the end in which the opening 36 ispositioned. The recess 46 is positioned between projections 48 and 50,the outer surfaces of which are rounded, as indicated by the numerals 52and 54.

The upper jaws 14 and 22 are connected with an arcuate web 56 on which afiat spring 58 is mounted by a rivet 69, and the spring is positioned tobe engaged by a flange 62 at the upp r end of the latch 32 for retainingthe latch in locking and released positions. The lower jaws 1 6 and 24are connected by a similar web 64, and the webs 56 and 64 are shown insection in Figure 3.

The fingers 26 and 28 are provided with arcuate recesses 66 withprojections 68 and 70 at the sides and, as shown in Figure 3, thefingers are connected with an arcuate web 72 that is positioned to gripthe lariat with the end of the lariat in the recess 46 of the body 12.

The latch 32 is provided with an eye 74 to which a cord 76 is connectedby a clevis or S-hook 78, and with the lower jaw 80 of the latch snappedover the pin 34 extended through the lower jaws 16 and 24 the grippingelements are locked over the lariat, whereas a pull on the cord 76 drawsthe jaw 80 of the latch 32 from the pin 34 and the jaws 14 and'16 arereleased, permitting the lariat to pass from the horn 42 of the saddle.

With the parts designed and assembled as illustrated and described oneend of a lariat is anchored by the honda over the horn 42 and the lariatis used in the conventional manner, however, should the ropeaccid'entally become entangled around the horse or rider a quick pull onthe rope 76 frees the lariat without causing injury to the horse orrider. The lariat is readily replaced by extending the end around thehorn and through the recess 46 and then snapping the jaws, holdingfingers, and latch into locking positions with a knot 82 on the end ofthe lariat projecting through the honda.

From the foregoing specification, it will become apparent that theinvention disclosed will adequately accomplish the functions for whichit has been designed and in an economical manner, and that itssimplicity, accuracy, and ease of operation are such as to provide arelatively inexpensive device, considering what it will accomplish, andthat it will find an important place in the art to which it appertainswhen once placed on the market.

It is thought that persons skilledin the art to which the inventionrelates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the inventionafter considering the description in connection with the drawings.Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Changes in shape, size, and arrangement of details and parts such ascome within the purview of the invention claimed may be resorted to inactual practice, if desired.

Having now described the invention that which is claimed to be new anddesired to be procured by Letters Patent is:

1. A lariat honda comprising a body having a transverse opening throughwhich the lariat extends, gripping jaws for retaining the lariat in thehonda pivotally mounted on the body, a latch pivotally mounted in onejaw and positioned to snap over a pin in the other jaw for locking thejaws in gripping relation with the lariat, and a cord extended from thelatch, the jaw locking latch being actuated by the cord to release thehonda by a pull thereon.

2. A lariat honda comprising a body having an opening therethrough, alariat extended through the opening of said body, the end of the lariatbeing extended back through the body providing a saddle horn receivingloop, gripping jaws on the body for retaining the end of the lariat insaid body, a latch pivotally mounted in one jaw and positioned to snapover a pin of the other jaw for retaining the gripping jaws in holdingrelation with the end of the lariat, and a rope extended from the latchfor actuating the latch to release the jaws and lariat.

3. A lariat honda comprising a rectangular-shaped body having an openingextended transversely therethrough and having a semi-circular recess,the axis of which is parallel to the axis of said opening, in one end,gripping jaws pivotally mounted on sides of the body and positioned tocoact with said semi-circular recess to grip an end of a lariat, lariatgripping fingers pivotally mounted on some of the gripping jaws, a latchpivotally mounted between two of the jaws and positioned to snap over apin extended between another two of the jaws, a spring for retaining thelatch in holding and released positions, and a rope extended from thelatch for actuating the latch to release the gripping jaws.

4. In a releasable lariat grip, the combination which comprises arectangular-shaped body having an opening extended transverselytherethough and spaced inwardly from one end, said body having asemi-circular recess in the end opposite to the end through which thetransversely disposed opening extends and the axis of the recess beingparallel to the axis of the opening, gripping jaws pivotally mounted onsides of the body and positioned to coact with said semi-circular recessfor gripping an end of a lariat, said jaws being connected by arcuatetransversely disposed webs providing pairs, fingers having projectionsat the ends pivotally mounted on outer surfaces of the jaws of one pairand positioned to grip an end of a lariat positioned in said recess, alatch pivotally mounted between the jaws of the pair on which thefingers are positioned and having a gripping jaw positioned to snap overa pin extended between the other pair of jaws for securing the jaws inlocking relation with the end of the lariat, and a rope'extended fromthe latch for actuating the latch to release the jaws from a remotepoint.

5. In a-lariat honda, the combination which comprises a body having anopening extended through one end, upper and lower pairs of gripping jawspivotally mounted on the body and positioned to coact with a surface ofthe body for gripping an end of .a lariat, lariat gripping elementspivotally mounted on the outer surfaces of the jaws of the upper pair, alatchvpivotally mounted in the upper pair of jaws and positioned to snapover a pin extended between the lower pair of jaws for retaining theupper and lower jaws in lariat gripping positions, a spring mounted onthe upper pair of jaws and positioned to be engaged by the latch forretaining the latch in locking and released positions, and a ropeextended from the latch for actuating the latch to release the lariatgripping aws.

